Method and system for adaptive component placement

Abstract

A method and system for adaptive component placement are disclosed. The method comprises generating a configuration. The configuration comprises a placement of components within a rack. The method further comprises computing a center of gravity of the configuration. The method also comprises determining if the center of gravity exceeds a maximum center of gravity.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A computer implemented method for configuring a placement of computer components within a rack, comprising: 
       defining a plurality of optimization levels;  
       selecting a level out of the plurality of optimization levels comprising a first, second, third, and fourth optimization level;  
       generating a configuration for the placement of the computer components within the rack based upon the selected optimization level wherein the generating step based upon the first optimization level comprises:  
       sorting the components from a highest density component to a lowest density component into a sorted stack;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a power supply component, if any, and placing it in a lowest position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a server component, if any, and placing it in a lowest position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a peripheral component, if any, and placing it in a lowest position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a storage component, if any, and placing it in a lowest position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a keyboard component, if any, and placing it in the configuration at a specified height;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a switchbox, if any, and placing it in the configuration above the keyboard component;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a monitor component, if any, and placing it in the configuration, at a top of the component stack; and,  
       placing a filler panel, if any, in the configuration;  
       computing a center of gravity of the configuration; and,  
       determining if the center of gravity exceeds a maximum center of gravity.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating step based upon the second optimization level comprises: 
       sorting the components from a highest density component to a lowest density component into a sorted stack;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a power supply component, if any, and placing it in a lowest position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a server component, if any, and placing it in a lowest available position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a storage component, if any, and placing it in a lowest available position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a peripheral component, if any, and placing it in a lowest available position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a keyboard component, if any, and placing it in the configuration, at a specified height;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a switchbox, if any, and placing it in the configuration, above the keyboard component;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a monitor component, if any, and placing it in the configuration, at a top of the component stack; and,  
       placing a filler panel, if any, in the configuration.  
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating step based upon the third optimization level comprises: 
       sorting the components from a highest density component to a lowest density component into a sorted stack;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a power supply component, if any, and placing it in a in a lowest position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a storage component, if any, and placing it in a lowest available position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a peripheral component or a server component, if any, and placing it in a lowest available position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a keyboard component, if any, and placing it in the configuration, at a specified height;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a switchbox, if any, and placing it in the configuration, above the keyboard component;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a monitor component, if any, and placing it in the configuration, at a top of the component stack; and  
       placing a filler panel, if any, in the configuration.  
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating step based upon the fourth optimization level comprises: 
       sorting the components from a highest weight to a lowest weight into a sorted stack;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a power supply component, if any, and placing it in a lowest position in the rack;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a server component, a peripheral component, or a storage component, if any, and placing it at a lowest available position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a keyboard component, if any, and placing it in the configuration, at a specified height;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a switchbox, if any, and placing it in the configuration, above the keyboard component;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a monitor component, if any, and placing it in the configuration, at a top of the component stack; and  
       placing a filler panel, if any, in the configuration.  
     
     
       5. A computer implemented method for configuring placement of computer components within a rack, comprising: 
       defining a plurality of optimization levels;  
       selecting a level out of the plurality of optimization levels;  
       generating a configuration based upon the selected level, the configuration comprising the placement of components within the rack;  
       computing a center of gravity of the configuration;  
       determining if the center of gravity exceeds a maximum center of gravity; and  
       repeating the selecting, generating, computing, and determining steps until the center of gravity of the configuration does not exceed the maximum center of gravity.  
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of optimization levels comprise a first, second, third, and fourth optimization level. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising calculating the maximum center of gravity. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the maximum center of gravity is calculated as a function of zones of a rack occupied by the configuration. 
     
     
       9. A computer implemented method for configuring a placement of components within a rack, comprising: 
       defining a plurality of optimization levels;  
       selecting a level out of the plurality of optimization levels comprising a first, second, third, and fourth optimization levels;  
       generating a configuration for the placement of components within the rack based upon the selected level wherein the generating step based upon the first optimization level comprises:  
       sorting the components from a highest density component to a lowest density component into a sorted stack;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a power supply component, if any, and placing it in a lowest position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a server component, if any, and placing it in a lowest available position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a peripheral component, if any, and placing it in a lowest available position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a storage component, if any, and placing it in a lowest available position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a keyboard component, if any, and placing it in the configuration at a specified height;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a switchbox, if any, and placing it in the configuration above the keyboard component;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a monitor component, if any, and placing it in the configuration, at a top of the component stack; and  
       placing a filler panel, if any, in the configuration;  
       computing a center of gravity of the configuration;  
       determining if the center of gravity exceeds a maximum center of gravity;  
       repeating the selecting, generating, computing, and determining steps until the center of gravity of the configuration does not exceed the maximum center of gravity.  
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the generating step based upon the second optimization level comprises: 
       sorting the components from a highest density component to a lowest density component into a sorted stack;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a power supply component, if any, and placing it in a lowest position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a server component, if any, and placing it in a lowest available position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a storage component, if any, and placing it in a lowest available position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a peripheral component, if any, and placing it in a lowest available position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a keyboard component, if any, and placing it in the configuration, at a specified height;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a switchbox, if any, and placing it in the configuration, above the keyboard component;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a monitor component, if any, and placing it in the configuration, at a top of the component stack; and  
       placing a filler panel, if any, in the configuration.  
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the generating step based upon the third optimization level comprises: 
       sorting the components from a highest density component to a lowest density component into a sorted stack;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a power supply component, if any, and placing it in a in a lowest position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a storage component, if any, and placing it in a lowest available position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a peripheral component or a server component, if any, and placing it in a lowest available position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a keyboard component, if any, and placing it in the configuration, at a specified height;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a switchbox, if any, and placing it in the configuration, above the keyboard component;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a monitor component, if any, and placing it in the configuration, at a top of the component stack; and  
       placing a filler panel, if any, in the configuration.  
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the generating step based upon the fourth optimization level comprises: 
       sorting the components from a highest weight to a lowest weight into a sorted stack;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a power supply component, if any, and placing it in a lowest position in the rack;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a server component, a peripheral component, or a storage component, if any, and placing it at a lowest available position in the configuration;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a keyboard component, if any, and placing it in the configuration, at a specified height;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a switchbox, if any, and placing it in the configuration, above the keyboard component;  
       selecting from the sorted stack a monitor component, if any, and placing it in the configuration, at a top of the component stack; and  
       placing a filler panel, if any, in the configuration.  
     
     
       13. A system for configuring placement of computer components within a rack, the system comprising: 
       a plurality of optimization levels; and  
       an execution engine comprising software for execution on a computing platform, the execution engine operable to:  
       select a level out of the plurality of optimization levels;  
       generate a configuration for the placement of the components within the rack based upon the selected level;  
       compute a center of gravity of the configuration;  
       determine if the center of gravity exceeds a maximum center of gravity; and  
       repeat the selecting, generating, computing, and determining steps until the center of gravity of the configuration does not exceed the maximum center of gravity.  
     
     
       14. A computer implemented method for configuring a placement of components within a rack, comprising: 
       defining a plurality of optimization levels;  
       selecting a level out of the plurality of optimization levels; and  
       generating a configuration for the placement of the components within the rack based upon the optimization level;  
       computing a center of gravity of the configuration; and  
       determining if the center of gravity exceeds a maximum center of gravity.  
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising calculating the maximum center of gravity. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the maximum center of gravity is calculated as a function of zones of a rack occupied by the configuration. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
       generating, after the determining step, a new configuration;  
       computing a new center of gravity of the new configuration; and  
       determining if the new center of gravity exceeds the maximum center of gravity.  
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
       repeating the selecting, generating, computing, and determining steps until the center of gravity of the configuration does not exceed the maximum center of gravity.  
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of optimization levels comprise a first, second, third, and fourth optimization level.